The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on Friday released its updated guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in the upcoming fall season.
While COVID-19 rates are low lately across the country, NACI said it expects increased activity in the fall and winter months, which aligns with trends seen in recent years and is consistent with the habit of other respiratory viruses.
“As COVID-19 activity is expected in the coming fall and winter months and COVID-19 disease could compound the fitness formula effect of other fall and winter respiratory viruses, NACI continues to provide early guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines to facilitate the development of plans across provinces and territories,” the rules say.
“An updated vaccine may be available as early as fall 2024 to update the existing XBB. 1. 5 vaccine, depending on the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and recommendations from foreign advisory teams expected in mid-spring 2024. . »
Beginning in the fall of 2024, NACI strongly recommends the newest and most recent COVID-19 vaccines for vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 disease, as follows:
All other previously vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans (six months of age and older) who are not at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 will be eligible to receive the most recently updated vaccine in the fall of 2024. .
And for unvaccinated Americans ages five and older who are severely immunocompromised, NACI recommends that two doses be administered and one more dose (for a total of 3 doses) can be administered, regardless of the vaccine platform.
For those already vaccinated, NACI recommends a period of six months from the last dose, with a minimum period of 3 months from the last dose. This minimum will ensure that those who get a dose in spring 2024 — which includes those at maximum risk of developing severe disease — will be eligible to receive an updated dose again in the fall of 2024, when it becomes available, NACI said.
Omicron sublineages of COVID-19 continue to circulate in Canada and around the world, NACI said. From sequencing data through the week of March 10, JN. 1 sublineages are the most prevalent among all cases sampled across Canada.
“There is not yet enough knowledge to determine the most productive time to start the COVID-19 vaccination program in the fall; initial observations from past seasons recommend that COVID-19 activity begin to develop prior to the fall vaccination rollout. campaigns,” NACI said Friday. In 2023, the national percentage of positive COVID-19 test results began to rise in mid-August. »
In August 2023, after months of low transmission of the virus, COVID-19 began to rise across the country due to the emergence of two variants, EG. 5, a subvariant of Omicron, and BA. 2. 86.
Although COVID-19 cases began to rise, the rollout of the fall 2023 boosters didn’t come until about October.